CHRIS PAUL, G, NEW ORLEANS/OKLAHOMA CITY
13.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.0 APG, 2.0 SPG
Chris Paul has been solid in leading the Hornets to a surprising 2-1 start. He had his best game so far on Saturday in a 91-84 win in Houston, scoring 15 points and dishing out eight dimes while turning the ball over just once. His only weakness so far seems to be his shooting from long range (3-12).
2. ANDREW BOGUT, C, MILWAUKEE
9.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.0 BPG, .481 FG%
We watched Andrew Bogut live on Wednesday at the Meadowlands and we came away pretty impressed. He's not spectacular at anything and we're not sure he'll ever be a superstar in this league. He is just a very solid big man with good hands and good instincts around the basket. Skills like that in a seven-footer are rare in the NBA and we're talking about a rookie.
3. JAMES SINGLETON, F, LA CLIPPERS
10.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.33 SPG, .611 FG%
What? You've never heard of James Singleton? We'll be honest. We hadn't either until a couple of weeks ago. He's a 24-year old rookie from Murray State who played the last two seasons in Italy. He has benefitted from Corey Maggette's absence and his role could be limited when Maggette returns, but for now, he's the only rookie with two double-doubles.
4. JOSÉ CALDERÓN, G, TORONTO
10.3 PPG, 6.7 APG, .611 FG%
José Calderón surprised some people with a 20 point performance against New Jersey on Friday, the highest scoring game for a rookie in the first week of the season, but not us. Well, OK. We'll admit we were a bit surprised, but we did watch a lot of Calderón in Eurobasket 2005 and we knew he had a chance to be a solid NBA player. He followed that game against the Nets with a 10 assist game in Detroit.
5. DERON WILLIAMS, G, UTAH
11.7 PPG, 3.0 APG, 4-7 3PT
Deron Williams led the Jazz to a nice win over Dallas on Wednesday, scoring 18 points in 26 minutes and playing the entire pivotal fourth quarter. After a solid game at Golden State on Friday, he struggled a bit in a loss to the Suns on Saturday. We imagine Williams will be starting in Utah before long, but you'd like to see a few more assists from the No. 3 pick. We'll see him this week here in Jerz where he'll match up against the man he molded his game after, Jason Kidd.
6. SALIM STOUDAMIRE, G, ATLANTA
10.0 PPG, 2.7 APG, 5-9 3PT
After a rough opening night, Salim Stoudamire shot 9-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-8 from downtown, scoring 15 points in each of the Hawks' two weekend games. Stoudamire is a gunner who can give Atlanta some nice instant offense when he is shooting well.
7. CHANNING FRYE, C, NEW YORK
9.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.0 BPG
Channing Frye did not play in the Knicks' opener in Boston, but he played solidly against the Wizards and Warriors. On Sunday, the Knicks rookies helped turn an 11-point deficit into a five-point lead, but when Larry Brown went back to his vets, Golden State regained control. It will be very interesting to see how that rotation develops over the next few weeks.
8. SARUNAS JASIKEVICIOUS, G, INDIANA
6.7 PPG, 1.33 SPG, .538 FG%, 4-8 3PT
Sarunas Jasikevicious has shot the ball well (7-of-13 from the field, 4-of-8 from downtown), but hasn't exactly seen much playing time. That tells you how deep the Pacers are.
9. DAVID LEE, F, NEW YORK
8.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3-3 FG
David Lee was inactive for the first two games, but was activated and gave the Knicks a huge lift on Sunday. In a little more than 18 minutes, he scored eight points and grabbed 10 boards to help New York come back from an 11-point second half deficit.
10. SERGEI MONIA, F, PORTLAND
8.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3-3 FG
Like Lee, Sergei Monia was activated for his team's third game. Unlike Lee, Monia was inserted into the starting lineup, and he put up a nice line: eight points, six boards and five assists on Saturday against the Hawks. That Blazer lineup looks like it could change a lot during the course of the season and we imagine Monia numbers will fluctuate as well.